Right leg Froze up when Riding?

I went on a long ride for 5 days and I was having trouble with my right leg on my 2004 VFR. My knee started to hurt and then the pain would spread, leading to my right leg being numb. I was on a normal route that i have attempted several times before, but this time I had to stop and get a motel before reaching home. after 6 hours of riding I had a hard time easily moving my leg for braking.

Anyone have any issues like this? It's felt like a pinch nerve. The only thing i can think of is the factory seat sucks and is do for an upgrade.

Thanks

 

I get leg cramps, but these can happen within 5 minutes or 5 hours. Because I suffer from a bad back (lucky me), I've found that doing stretching exercises cuts down of the leg cramps & fatigued shoulders. Being in a static position for hours, cuts down on the blood flow to muscles & nerves. So a pinched nerve isn't to far off the mark. I take a break after about 2-3 hours in saddle, usually for a pee, a ciggie, a stretch & to get some feeling back in my backside. You have to break your journey up a bit.

 

Do you keep your wallet in your right back pocket?
If I forget to take mine out about 20min into my ride I'll feel the pain shoot down my leg.

 

You might have this symtom, I have the same issue for the pass few months and my Dr. told me this is the problem.

Sciatica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Considering you said you've done this ride before - presumably without pain - sounds like something is amiss medically. That doesn't seem to just be the aches and pains of "sitting wrong". Having a leg go numb is, IMO, too dangerous to not have it checked out by a Dr.

I know the older I get, the more things start to hurt.


Stretching before and during the ride can't hurt. Maybe even a preemptive strike with some Ibuprofen.

 

I find that riding is great therapy for my chronically painful back- too many million miles in airplane seats. Riding my CBR really stretches it out and makes it feel a lot better- the VFR not quite as much but still better than a chair!

My regimen for a long ride consists of popping a couple Aleve or IB, and stopping every hundred miles or so for a stretch. One more thing to consider- when my knee armor or hip armor isn't set right, the pressure can lead to cramps and pain over time. That was the first thing that came to mind when you mentioned your symptoms.

Check your knee armor position, a small change can make a huge difference after a few hours on the road.

 

Have no problems with the standard seat for distance but find its good to stand up on the pegs for a few seconds just for a bit of a stretch every so often and have a bit of a walk around at gas stops or even better try and ride mainly twisties when plotting your route.

 

I find a drink of water before riding prevents my leg cramps, if not within 10 mins I'm in trouble

 

Thanks for the replies! It was a rough ride back.

I currently use a lot of the techniques mentioned. I'm usually fine on long distance riding, but this time I was a little concerned riding like that.

I think four things might help - cruise control- a better seat, more stretching and researching Sciatica. Thanks Scubalong!

I'm seeing a sports therapist, so will see.

 

Thanks Scubalong! I think you nailed it. I have problem in my lower back over that last couple years. Seeing a sports therapist, so i'll see if he has any input.

 

LOL! Yea, I think i'm completely done with this seat. Looking at the Sargent seat. But, i might see if i can find a local upholster like you suggested.

 

I found Durk's solution good with a slight modification. I still have my wallet in my right rear pocket but I leave the condom and the pix of my pet hampsters at heme.

 

Probabaly half a dozen outfits in Portland that can do ya good. If not, try "Ritch's" just North of Seattle. As an afterthought you may must have some binding in your pants behind the knee joint that is cutting off circulation..

 

I found a Sargent for $200. Great seat.

I have recommended MANY people to my father in law for deep muscle massage therapy. If you have big physical problems (like burst disks), he'll be the first to tell you that a doctor has to fix that kind of stuff. However, more than one person has talked to me about living with sciatic problems for years and after one visit to him they say it's like a magic pill. They instantly feel better and don't have to see him every week or even every month. He really does have magic in them hands. Bottom line is that someone with a career of deep muscle massage experience (I think it was originally called Rolfing) is absolutely my first choice for recurring muscle or nerve issues. I hope you can find someone local who could take care of you.

Jose

 

Even closer for a hand job is Miss Kitty Litter in Seattle.

 

I have a herniated disc in my back, and sometimes my right leg will get so stiff and sometimes kinda numb. I just deal with it. What bothers me more is my fingers that seem to go to sleep on this bike. The ends of my fingers, nothing else. I can't imagine what causes it. This bike has nearly zero vibration, it sits pretty upright, so what the hell?

 

All you dudes that are having this problem really should see a physician about this. We have some guys here that are EMTs and even nurses. Let go you could end up like this poor SOB.

http://cl.jroo.me/z3/p/A/f/e/a.baa-The-frozen-motorcyclist.jpg

 

I saw a sports therapist two days ago and the issue is caused by un-worked muscles in my lower back. I'm also over using one side of my body.

I'm in construction and constantly using certain muscles while avoided others. Still working with the physician on stretches and workouts.

I also have issues with my right hand getting numb and it's due to this issue. Basically when I was riding the whole right side of my body was shutting down.

I'm glad that I didn't continue on riding into the night with that pain and got a motel.

 

A few have already suggested the optimum start to the end of your problem. As much faith as I have in physio therapists and message therapists, you need to see the doc to assure yourself there is not something more serious going on. A physio therapist cannot make that call. He can only make a well educated guess.

This is not something to laugh off. My lumbar issues go back to recruit training back in 1978 with just a little pinch feeling in the lower back while doing dead lifts. Since that time, I have had three surgeries, spent a few days in a hospital bed with "no" feeling below my hips at all. Doc called that temporary paralysis, but at the time, I thought there was nothing temporary about it. A scare thought that I could not get out of bed or walk. Now since that simple pinch in 1978 there have been some fights, a couple tumbles down stairs, an accident or two and the list only gets long and boring but it all started with simple weight lifting and me not getting the proper care in the first place.

Now I have permanent damage but do manage very well. That includes a few very long and hard rides on the bike. One of these 2000 or so mile rides was on the OEM seat. Quite honestly, I don't see much of a difference between the OEM and the Sargent I now have. Go see doc and check it out and follow his advise. But after that, most if not all the advise posted here, I do as well and they all make a great difference.

Just one other little thing to add about drinking water for the cramping. Put about 5 or 6 grains of sea salt in your water bottle. You won't taste the sea salt but there are minerals in sea salt that are very beneficial to reducing the instances of cramping from dehydration.